The frequently busy intersection of Highland Street and Walker Avenue was crowded as usual on April 13, but it wasn’t because of the typical hustle and bustle of students rushing to get to class on time. It was filled with people who wanted to get involved with MemFix. MemFix was created by the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team, which focuses on fixing problems in urban neighborhoods. The event began last November in an effort to improve Cleveland Street. Afterwards, the University Neighborhood Development Corp. and University District Business Alliance decided to bring MEMfix to the University area.

Several local businesses, musicians, and residents came together to support the event, which was aimed towards making the Highland-Walker more pedestrian-friendly. Vendors lined the pavement selling everything from t-shirts to tribal masks. One of the many supporting organizations was the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park. Roy Barnes, president of the Overton Park citizens group, said that MemFix Highland-Walker has the potential of “helping the businesses come back and filling, for instance, the old YMCA space” and providing “just a great chance to kind of activate the neighborhood,” Barnes said MemFix should encourage everyone, especially students, to give more attention to the Highland- Walker area and the ways that it could be adapted for pedestrian needs.

“It just shows new possibilities for the place, for ways in which you can get more students out and walking these streets,” he said. Robby Patel, a MemFix volunteer, said he noticed a need for improvements in the area that could potentially benefit not only pedestrians, but retailers as well. “We need more police patrol and to make the sidewalks better,” he said. “Students will buy more, and people will feel safe.” The Overton Park citizens group is very much in favor of the MemFix movement, according to Barnes. Equally as important as improving the neighborhood, he said that getting the opportunity to see Memphis residents support the community is what he and his organization most enjoy. “We’re supporters of MemFix in general, and we just thought it was a good chance to connect with people who love Memphis,” he said.